It seems that nearly every year, another theatre company brings their own adaptation of Nabokovs Lolita to the festival. This year, the theatre factory known as Act Provocateur International makes the attempt.
Lolita tells the story of chronic paedophiliac Humbert Humbert who becomes obsessed with the young daughter of his landlady, Charlotte. When Charlotte passes away, he is left to raise her, ruin her, and ultimately lose her.
While the performances are not terrible, they are also not very engaging. In addition, the way in which Humbert has been adapted to the stage is rather unsatisfying. Humbert is fascinating to us because, despite his unacceptable behaviours, there is a quality to him which should remain likeable. It is the root of Lolita and necessary to make the story work. There is little about this version of Humbert that doesnt make him seem like anything but a dirty old man, thus causing the production to bore rather quickly.
